Video: Passions of Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine: from genius poetry to pistol shots
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud - two French poets who have made a huge contribution to world literature. Their connection is called passionate, destructive, "wrong." Paul Verlaine was a man of fine mental organization, easily succumbing to other people's influence, and Rimbaud was called a young genius scoundrel. Whatever it was, but their relationship gave rise to wonderful poems, which are still read by descendants.
Arthur Rimbaud was born in 1854. The father left the family when the son was still very young. The mother had a tough character and did not show any tenderness either to her son or to the rest of the children. Studying was easy for Arthur, he showed success in rhyming from childhood, only he lacked zeal. The mother did not care at all about instilling in her son elementary manners, paying attention to his appearance. Arthur grew up to be an absolute slob. His unique talent for writing contrasted sharply with Rimbaud's casual look.
The indefatigable energy of the young poet could not find an entrance to the provinces. When Arthur Rimbaud was 16 years old, he decided to write to Paul Verlaine, at that time already a famous poet. The young man admired Verlaine's work and attached his poems to the letter. To the great surprise of Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine liked his poetry, and he even invited the young man to Paris, paying his way.
The conditions in which Paul Verlaine grew up were completely different from the life of his protégé. The mother, who had three miscarriages, considered her son a unique child and did her best to give him the very best. Paul grew up as an ugly boy, but in return, nature endowed him with talent. Excessive custody of an enthusiastic mother led to the fact that Paul easily succumbed to other people's influence. Already at a young age, he tasted the taste of alcohol and hashish. But what frightened the poet most of all was his attraction to men. Paul Verlaine thought this was unnatural. He tried to "cure this disease" by tying the knot.
The poet's chosen one was Matilda Monet. As a 17-year-old girl, she read Verlaine's poetry. They married in 1870, and soon Matilda became pregnant.
In 1871, Arthur Rimbaud appeared on the threshold of the poet's house. He looked terrible: disheveled, unwashed hair, dirty clothes, cold eyes. When he was invited to the table, the provincial poet constantly regurgitated, chomped, spoke with an open mouth. Matilda was horrified, and Paul looked at the young talent as bewitched. Rimbaud perceived the poet's wife as an enemy, and in conversations with Verlaine, he called her nothing but "rat".
Paul Verlaine introduced Arthur Rimbaud, who was 10 years younger than him, into his entourage. Friends did not know how to relate to the poet's protege. His talent was recognized by everyone, but Rimbaud's terrible behavior repulsed people.
Matilda could not endure Rimbaud for a long time at home and, in the end, insisted that her husband send him out the door. Paul Verlaine tried to attach the young poet to his acquaintances, but he was driven from everywhere. Then he rented a room for the "dear friend".
Arthur Rimbaud had a detrimental effect on Verlaine. If earlier he somehow restrained the "demons" inside himself, now they have escaped to freedom. When Verlaine went over to the side of homosexual love, images of Minerva and Venus immediately disappeared from his poems. Moreover, Verlaine began to get drunk daily to unconsciousness. The poet preferred absinthe to wine.
In a state of alcoholic intoxication, the poet became very aggressive. Paul Verlaine began to beat his wife, but every time after fights he begged for forgiveness from Matilda. Once he almost provoked a miscarriage. In the end, she broke down and filed for divorce.
In the passionate relationship of the two poets, aggression was constantly present. Once Arthur stabbed Paul in the thigh and arm. He did not report to the police. After a while, Verlaine had already shot Rimbaud, and this ended for him with a 2-year imprisonment. However, Arthur Rimbaud was even delighted with this turn of events, he began to get bored with an adult, always drunken lover.
After being released from Verlaine prison, they met for the last time. Their conversation ended in a quarrel. Arthur Rimbaud found himself rich patrons and went to the colonies. As for Paul Verlaine, every year he sank lower and lower. The only "bright spot" in his life, he considered the connection with the "brilliant villain."
Arthur Rimbaud died at the age of 37. It is this age that is called critical for poets: "Pushkin guessed a duel to this figure, and Mayakovsky lay down on the muzzle with his temple." It was the 37-year-old milestone that many of them could not cross.
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